Stinky Flowers

The score so far: 2 dead Bearded Dragons & 1 Mountain Dragon that has refused to eat on it’s own and has been hand-fed by my husband for 2 months.

I think everyone should have a hobby BUT…

You're kidding me, right?

Doesn't this automatically make me "Wife of the Year"?

 I have to stop posting my angst over these reptiles because if they keep dying…I’m the prime suspect.

Two brothers, a sandbox AND I actually had my camera with me. All the planets were aligned and I captured these moments:

Then I had to strip them down, hose them off while they ran through the yard screaming, “Mommy! You’re freezing our butts.” I’m still waiting to see if calls were made by my neighbors to child protective services.

Even after baths, there is sand coming out of places I don’t want to even think about and half the sand is out of the box and all over the patio…

 But getting messy is fun. Getting messy is fun. Getting messy is fun. I have to keep repeating that to my “I’m-a-bad-m0m-if-the-house-is-messy” self. I’m getting better. These photos are proof…

OK, I have to go sweep up the sand, strain all the leaves out of it and put it back in the sandbox. Rome wasn’t built in a day, people.

One of the best things about turning 2 1/2 is that your Mom & Grandma can take you to the Disney Store in the mall and you think you’ve been to Disney World. Hug a couple of stuffed Mickey’s, watch Toodles on the store’s DVD player and you’ll sleep a pixie dust-induced sleep for hours, thinking you have the best Mommy in the world. 

Obviously, Zeke doesn’t get the whole 1/2 birthday thing yet…he doesn’t understand his regular birthday. BUT, he will. So, just like all the other holidays, we’re paving the road now to drive on it later. Besides…it’s an excuse to eat cupcakes, sing “Happy 1/2 birthday to you” and give Zeke lots of extra special attention. (Did anyone notice the cupcakes were listed first?) 

I made Ghirardelli chocolate muffins and called them 1/2 birthday cakes. Zeke took one bite and said, “mmm, mmm, mmm…delish! Da goo, Mommy…da goo.” 

Frozen fruit bar for the 1/2 birthday boy. Two desserts in one day...crazy!

Next year we’ll take him to Petco and tell him he’s at the zoo.

Well, we did it. We had a benefit for the Larkin family and Noah’s Light Foundation and we raised some serious cash. 

It started out as a neighborhood, “Hey, kids…let’s put on a show!” and grew into a major productions with all the bells and whistles. Nationally touring bands and comedians performed, radio stations got involved and silent auction items fell  from the sky. It was an amazing show of love and support for Noah and his family, while everyone had a great time dancing, laughing and shopping. 

Amber Larkin, guest of honor; Helen Keaney, comedienne & host of HSN; and that's me the only time I wasn't frantically pacing.

Amber was poised and gracious…I don’t know how she does it. All I know is that when I grow up, I want to be just like her. 

My brother's band, Channel Z...wonder how THEY got the gig?

 It was really fun for me to share the stage with my brother, Scott. He’s been a drummer his entire life and I’ve been a… well…a…I’ve been performing in some way or another all my life and this is the first time we’ve ever been in the same show. Pretty cool.  Of course let the record show that he was MY opening act! Ha! 

Channel Z was awesome. Everyone loved their covers of hits old and new. Then my dear friend, Helen took the stage and really shook up our little town of Celebration. She gave us an outsider’s perspective and made us all laugh at ourselves. If you missed it or want more, Helen will be Headlining at the Tampa Improv for Cinco De Mayo. 

Then one of my oldest friends in comedy (uh…that came out wrong…one of my dearest friends in comedy that I’ve known the longest…) Lynn Trefzger came on with all her puppet “friends”. She has amazed me for years. I’ve seen her show a million times and it still makes me laugh. 

3 people from the audience became Lynn's puppets. I never knew asking someone their favorite color could be so hysterical.

I have to tell you what Lynn did. In addition to volunteering her performance like Channel Z and Helen Keaney did, I brought Lynn over to meet Noah and his sister, Landin. She brought one of her puppets, Cloe and proceeded to make those children laugh non-stop for over an hour. Cloe even tucked Landin into bed! That was truly above and beyond, Lynn…thank you. 

My turn. I outed Mark as "Lizard-Man" to the amusement of all our friends. You're a good sport, Honey.

The evening was a success. We made over $4000. in ticket sales and concession and are still waiting for the final count from the Silent auction company (unless he left the country with the money).  We told the Larkins we love them, we raised awareness for the cause and had a wonderful night out without the kids! 

To everyone who had their hand in this, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am humbled by your generosity and compassion.

Sometimes the answer is right there in front of you, but you’re just to “old-school” to see it.

"Let's be on the dark side, Nate!" "OK Noah, but just pretend, right?"

Amber and I set up these iChat cameras so Nate & Noah could see each other when they talked. They talk on the phone often but it’s hard for them to hear/understand each other.

We had no idea what it would turn into.

As soon as they saw each other they got so excited:

“Nate, I’m going to get my Star Wars guys, I’ll be right back.”

“I’m going to get mine too, Noah…I’ll be right back, too.”

They each ran to their rooms and brought back arms filled with Jedis & Sith Lords.

And they played. And they played. And they played.

2 hours went by and they were still going strong. Laughing, joking and killing each other’s guys.  It warmed my heart to see them playing so joyfully.  And it warmed my heart because I got to nap a little on the couch beside them.

“Mommy? I have to go to the bathroom. Can you pause Noah for me?”

“What do you mean, Nate?”

“Can you hit pause on the remote so I won’t miss any of Noah while I’m in the bathroom”.

“It doesn’t work like that Nate, Noah isn’t  a recording.”

“Nate…I have to go to the bathroom too! Let’s go at the same time…on your mark…get set…go!”

Do you have any idea what the attention span is of a 5 & 6-year-old? Cartoons are only 15 minutes long if that gives you any idea. These two boys played with each other in front of this screen for 3 hours. 3 hours! That’s a week and a half in kindergartenland.  I finally had to say, “Time for supper.” and then had to listen to the whining, crying and foot stomping pleas, “I don’t want to eat, I want to play with Noah! PLEASE, Mommy! I can eat any time. I want Noah!”

The final score that day:

Best friends  1

Medulloblastoma 0